KeyRoutines Free vs Pro
Free is for routines you start by hand: 3 switched on, started with a hotkey or Run manually. Pro is everything else: 202 of the 244 things below, and no limit on routines.
Free opens, closes and focuses apps, minimizes or maximizes their windows, presses keys and types text in the app in front, opens web pages, sets the volume, mute and output device, shows a notification and waits. Pro adds triggers that start routines by themselves, conditions and logic, the mouse, background text and clicks, files, web search and HTTP, OBS, Discord, Elgato, Modes, scripts, Stream Deck and the debugger. Create with AI, the Library, import, templates and safety features are free. A routine that uses a Pro step still opens and exports on Free; it just doesn't run until you have Pro.
Routines
In Free, with limits
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Routines switched onSave as many as you like. Free runs this many at once; switch one off to switch another on. | Free: 3 | Pro: Unlimited |
| GroupsSort routines into groups. | ||
| TemplatesReady-made routines to start from. Most use Pro steps, so they need Pro to run. | ||
| AFK on and AFK off templatesCtrl+Alt+K mutes the sound and shows the desktop; Ctrl+Alt+B unmutes. Both run on Free. | ||
| LibraryInstall ready-made routines. One that uses Pro steps says Unlock with Pro. | ||
| Create with AIDescribe a routine, copy the prompt into your own AI chat and paste the answer back. The steps it uses keep their own tier. | ||
| Import and exportShare routines as files. An import shows what it can do before you turn it on. | ||
| Version historyThe last 50 saves of each routine, with what changed and Restore. | ||
| Problems panePoints out missing apps, empty fields and steps that can't run, before you run them. | ||
| Run paletteFind and run any routine from one shortcut. |
Triggers
38 of 40 in Pro only
What starts a routine. Free starts routines by hand, with a hotkey or Run manually; every trigger that starts one by itself is Pro.
| Trigger | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| HotkeyA key combination, a mouse side button or a sequence like Ctrl+K, S. Works while other apps are in front. | ||
| Typed textType an abbreviation anywhere to start a routine, for text expansion. | ||
| Run manuallyFrom the Run button, the tray, the Run palette, the command line or a keyroutines:// link. | ||
| At a timeEvery day, on chosen days, or once. | ||
| Every few minutes or hours | ||
| When KeyRoutines starts | ||
| App launched | ||
| App quit | ||
| App focusedAn app comes to the front. | ||
| Window opened | ||
| Window closed | ||
| Window minimized | ||
| Window title changed | ||
| Game started or stoppedSteam, Epic and other launchers. | ||
| Download finished | ||
| Folder changedFiles added, changed or removed in a folder. | ||
| Clipboard changed | ||
| Audio device changedA headset is plugged in or the default device changes. | ||
| Display changedA monitor is plugged in or unplugged, or its layout changes. | ||
| Device connected or disconnectedUSB and Bluetooth devices. | ||
| Mic or camera in use | ||
| Internet connected or lost | ||
| Wi-Fi network joined or left | ||
| VPN connected or disconnected | ||
| PC locked | ||
| PC unlocked | ||
| IdleNo keyboard or mouse for a while. | ||
| Back at the PC | ||
| Going to sleep | ||
| Woke up | ||
| Plugged in or unplugged | ||
| Battery low | ||
| Started by another routine | ||
| Routine eventOne routine sends an event, others start on it. | ||
| OBS scene changed | ||
| OBS recording started or stopped | ||
| OBS stream started or stopped | ||
| OBS replay saved | ||
| Mode turned on or off | ||
| WebhookA local web call from a program on this PC. Off until you turn on the local API. |
Apps, windows and games
15 of 20 in Pro only
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Open appOr focus it if it's already running; can wait for its window. | ||
| Close app | ||
| Restart app | ||
| Run as administratorStarts an app elevated, after Windows asks you. | ||
| Focus window | ||
| Move and resize | ||
| Window stateMinimize, maximize or restore. | ||
| Show desktop | ||
| Get window info | ||
| Apply layoutPut a set of apps on chosen monitors and zones. | ||
| Remember layout | ||
| Restore layout | ||
| Open game pageA game's page in its launcher. | ||
| App is runningCondition | ||
| App or window in frontCondition | ||
| Full-screen app in frontCondition | ||
| App is readyConditionIts window is up and it has finished loading. | ||
| Game is readyConditionPast the launcher and loading screens. | ||
| Protected game runningConditionA game with anti-cheat. | ||
| Window existsCondition |
Keyboard and mouse
4 of 6 in Pro only
Free presses keys and types text in the app in front. Sending input to an app behind others is Pro, and works for desktop apps, not games.
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Press keysShortcuts and key presses, with waits between them, in the app in front. | ||
| Type text | ||
| MouseMove, click and scroll. | ||
| Send text to an app in the backgroundWithout bringing it forward. Desktop apps, not games. | ||
| Click in an app in the backgroundButtons and lists in classic desktop apps; not browsers or games. | ||
| Key or button heldCondition |
Audio
4 of 7 in Pro only
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Set volume | ||
| Mute or unmuteSpeakers or a microphone. | ||
| Set default audio device | ||
| App volume | ||
| Mute an app | ||
| Audio device connectedCondition | ||
| Audio device is the defaultCondition |
Display and look
All Pro
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Set display modeResolution and refresh rate per monitor. | ||
| HDR on or offPer monitor. | ||
| Set brightness | ||
| Dark or light mode | ||
| Set wallpaper | ||
| Show or hide desktop icons | ||
| Switch keyboard layout | ||
| Take screenshot | ||
| Dark mode is onCondition | ||
| Desktop icons are showingCondition | ||
| Monitor connectedCondition | ||
| Monitor countCondition | ||
| Main monitorCondition |
Power and system
All Pro
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Lock the PC | ||
| Sleep | ||
| Hibernate | ||
| Sign out | ||
| Restart | ||
| Shut down | ||
| Turn the screen off | ||
| Keep awakeStop the PC sleeping while a routine needs it. | ||
| Set power plan | ||
| Set power modeBest efficiency to best performance. | ||
| Quiet modeWindows' Do not disturb. | ||
| Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on or off | ||
| Idle forCondition | ||
| Battery levelCondition | ||
| Plugged in or on batteryCondition | ||
| PC is unlockedCondition | ||
| Device connectedCondition | ||
| Mic or camera in useCondition | ||
| Internet availableCondition | ||
| Host reachableConditionA PC or address on the network answers. | ||
| VPN connectedCondition | ||
| On Wi-Fi networkCondition |
Files
All Pro
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Open file or folder | ||
| Move or copy file | ||
| Rename file | ||
| Delete to Recycle BinNever deletes for good. | ||
| Create folder | ||
| Organize folderSort files into folders by type or date. | ||
| List files | ||
| Get file info | ||
| Read text file | ||
| Write text file | ||
| Add text to file | ||
| Read a JSON file | ||
| Write a JSON file | ||
| Zip files | ||
| Unzip file | ||
| File or folder existsCondition |
Clipboard
All Pro
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Get clipboard | ||
| Set clipboardText, an image or files. | ||
| Clipboard containsCondition |
Web
4 of 5 in Pro only
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Open URLsOne or more pages, in the browser you choose. | ||
| Web search | ||
| HTTP requestCall a web API and use the answer in later steps. | ||
| Send webhookDiscord, Slack and other webhooks. | ||
| Download file |
Notifications and questions
9 of 10 in Pro only
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Show notification | ||
| Show bannerA small bar on screen that never takes focus. | ||
| Show progress | ||
| Add to bellA note in KeyRoutines' own bell, to read later. | ||
| Play sound | ||
| Speak text | ||
| Ask for input | ||
| Ask with buttons | ||
| Choose from a list | ||
| Ask Yes or No |
Media
All Pro
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Media controlPlay, pause, next and previous, in whatever is playing. | ||
| Get now playing | ||
| Media is playingCondition |
OBS Studio
All Pro
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Switch scene | ||
| Record, stream and replay bufferStart, stop or save a replay. | ||
| Show or hide a source | ||
| Mute or unmute an input | ||
| Set an input's volume | ||
| Filter on or off | ||
| Switch profile | ||
| Switch scene collection | ||
| Studio mode | ||
| Press an OBS hotkey | ||
| OBS is connectedCondition | ||
| OBS scene isCondition | ||
| OBS is recordingCondition | ||
| OBS is streamingCondition |
Discord
All Pro
Through the Discord app on your PC.
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Mute | ||
| Deafen | ||
| Join a voice channel | ||
| Leave the voice channel | ||
| Push-to-talk or voice activity | ||
| Input device | ||
| Output device | ||
| A user's volume |
Elgato lights
All Pro
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Turn a light on or offKey Light, Ring Light and other Elgato lights on your network. | ||
| Set brightness and colour temperature |
Wallpaper Engine
All Pro
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Show a wallpaper | ||
| Next wallpaper | ||
| Play, pause or mute |
Scripts
All Pro
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Run PowerShell | ||
| Run commandA command line or batch file. | ||
| Run JavaScriptIn a sandbox, for quick calculations on text and data. | ||
| Script resultConditionBranch on what a script returns. |
Flow and logic
19 of 22 in Pro only
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| If and Otherwise | ||
| SwitchPick one of several branches by a value. | ||
| RepeatA number of times, while or until something is true, or for each item in a list. | ||
| At the same timeRun steps in parallel. | ||
| Try, Catch and FinallyHandle a failed step and clean up. | ||
| Wait untilWait for a condition, with a time limit. | ||
| GroupFold steps together under a name. | ||
| Delay | ||
| Stop repeating and Next round | ||
| Finish routine | ||
| Stop routine | ||
| Comment | ||
| Run routineCall another routine, with inputs and outputs. | ||
| Turn routine on or off | ||
| Cancel routine | ||
| Send routine event | ||
| Compare valuesCondition | ||
| Expression is trueCondition | ||
| Started by triggerCondition | ||
| Step succeededCondition | ||
| Time and dayCondition | ||
| Routine is runningCondition |
Variables and data
11 of 12 in Pro only
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Set variable | ||
| RememberKeep a value between runs. | ||
| ToggleFlip a remembered on/off value. | ||
| Remembered value isCondition | ||
| Routine inputs and outputsAsk for values when a routine starts; hand results back to the routine that ran it. | ||
| SecretsKeep tokens and passwords encrypted, out of the routine file and the history. | ||
| Text toolsChange case, find with a pattern, replace, split, join, trim and encode for a web address. | ||
| Read JSON valuePick a value out of JSON text. | ||
| ListsAdd, count, get, remove, sort and remove duplicates. | ||
| DictionariesNamed values: set, get, remove and count. | ||
| DatesAdd, subtract, time between, format and read dates. | ||
| MathCalculate, random numbers and rounding. |
Modes
All Pro
A Mode stays on until you turn it off, then puts back what it changed. On Free, the AFK on and AFK off templates do the same with two hotkeys.
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Modes with automatic restoreGaming Mode off puts back the headset, power plan and layout it changed, and reopens the apps it closed. | ||
| Turn mode on | ||
| Turn mode off | ||
| Toggle mode | ||
| Mode is onCondition |
Debugging and history
1 of 5 in Pro only
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Run historyPer routine: what started it, each step's result and why it failed. | Free: 50 runs or 7 days | Pro: 200 runs or 30 days |
| Live run viewWatch each step as it runs. | ||
| Test a stepRun one step on its own while you build. | ||
| Preview runSee what a routine would do, without doing it. | ||
| DebuggerBreakpoints, step by step, and editing variables while a routine runs. |
Stream Deck and other programs
4 of 6 in Pro only
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Stream Deck: Run routineA key or dial that runs a routine and shows Running, Done or Failed. | ||
| Stream Deck: Running statusHow many routines are running now. | ||
| Stream Deck: Toggle modeShows whether a Mode is on and turns it on or off. | ||
| Local APIPrograms on this PC that you pair can list, run and watch routines. Off by default. | ||
| Command linekr run, from a terminal, a script or a shortcut. It counts as Run manually. | ||
| LinksA keyroutines://run link starts a routine. It counts as Run manually. |
Safety
All in Free
Safety is never part of Pro.
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Game-safe modeNo input or screen reading in a game with anti-cheat. Steps that would touch it skip or stop. | ||
| Panic stopOne key stops every routine and lets go of every held key. | ||
| Permission previewAn imported routine shows what it can do, and is saved turned off. | ||
| Ask before runningA routine can ask Run or Skip each time it starts. | ||
| Run from outside, only if you allow itLinks, the command line and the local API run only the routines you open to them. | ||
| Undo file changesFile steps keep a journal for 30 days, so moves and renames can be undone. | ||
| Recycle Bin, not deleteFile steps never delete for good. | ||
| Updates |
Taken from the KeyRoutines app itself: its list of Pro features and the feature each trigger, step and condition belongs to. Only what's in the app today is listed; planned features aren't.
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